A message from Dr. O'Brien:
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Aug 23, 2023
Dear Stratton Students and Families,
We hope this letter finds you well and rested after a wonderful summer break! As we prepare to embark on a new school year filled with exciting learning adventures, we want to extend a warm welcome back to each and every one of you. Whether you're returning or starting with us for the first time (like me), know that you're an essential part of our school community. We're committed to providing a nurturing space where you can experience belonging, joy and growth.
Stratton’s incredibly dedicated team of educators and staff have been working hard to set up for an engaging and safe environment for all students. We're eager to (re)connect, share stories, and dive into new learning and activities that will spark curiosity and growth.
To that end, we have been working on establishing consistent school wide expectations. When caregivers and educators work together to support children to learn and follow behavioral and academic expectations, we take important steps to create a safe, secure and productive learning environment for all. Please review these expectations with your child(ren) before the first day. Everyone in the school community will teach, model and practice these positive social, emotional and academic behaviors so that everyone is very clear about what is expected. Elementary school is the time when we teach our children how to be positive contributors to a learning community and we need your support with this.
Here are some logistics to start the school year:
The Stratton school day begins promptly at 8:00am (doors open at 7:57am) and ends at 2:30pm on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday. On Wednesdays, school ends at 1:00pm for district-wide professional learning time for educators. Yes, educators are life-long learners! Breakfast and lunch will still be served on Wednesdays. Students who arrive after 8:00am any day must be signed in at the office and will be marked tardy.
There are a number of After School Programs in Arlington.
Stratton will serve free breakfast and lunch again this year. Breakfast will be served starting at 7:30am. All school meals (breakfast and lunch) will continue to be served free of charge again this year for all students. Healthy snacks should be brought from home. Students are usually hungry by recess, so a healthy snack is important. Please do not send candy or soda and respect any notice further restricting snack items due to food allergies or other state guidelines. Your teacher can give you guidance on this.
Please take a few moments to label your child’s belongings. For example, backpacks, coats, lunch boxes, even shoes should be clearly labeled. Lost and found is located outside of the cafeteria.
As a general rule, toys from home must stay at home and any exceptions should be cleared with the classroom teacher. There are special occasions and some other flexibility, but the general rule is to leave toys safely at home.
Students will be instructed to keep cellular or Wi-Fi devices brought from home in their backpacks. This includes phones, tablets, and smart watches. If a student forgets the expectation, the device will be held until the end of the day. Everyone at school has ample access to phones and clocks. We are not responsible for any of these devices being lost, damaged or stolen.
Sneakers should be worn to school on PE days and are the preferred footwear on other days. Please avoid flip-flops, clogs, and shoes with higher heels. It is difficult for children to participate in active play with these types of footwear.
For security purposes, everybody (caregivers and other visitors) MUST check-in at the office and obtain a Visitor’s Pass. If you plan to volunteer at the school or chaperone a field trip, you must have an active CORI on file with Arlington Public Schools. CORI forms must be filled out an advance to volunteering and can take 7-1o days for processing. We will no longer require proof of vaccination for our visitors.
The Stratton website is a great place to find resources and answers to frequently asked questions. You can also find information about our faculty, staff and APS curriculum. Stratton Elementary School
We are welcoming several new educators to our school community!
|
Position |
Name |
|
Principal |
Amy Kelly |
|
SLC Social Worker |
Hannah Sullivan |
|
3rd Grade Teacher |
Hannah Honig |
|
3rd Grade Teacher |
Jillian Danton |
|
Reading Specialist |
Kaitlyn Moran |
|
Math Interventionist |
Suzanne Trottier |
|
2nd Grade Teacher |
Megan Dillon |
|
Social Worker |
Michael Lynch |
|
SLC Teacher |
Cathryn Delaney |
|
SLC Teacher |
Saiko Otake |
|
Library |
Chrissie Collins |
|
Learning Center K-1 |
Jillian Little |
The beginning of the school year is a great time to establish new habits. We encourage you to start your morning routine a little earlier, and consider walking to/from school. It’s an amazing luxury, and so good for the body and mind.
Begin rebuilding routines (ie. nightly reading) and pulling back on others (ie. screen time).
Building the habit of good attendance and arriving at school on time is an essential component of school success.
DID YOU KNOW?
• Starting in preschool and kindergarten, too many absences can cause children to fall behind in school.
• Missing 10%, or about 2 days each month over the course of a school year, can make it harder to learn to read.
• Students can still fall behind if they miss just 1 or 2 days every few weeks.
• Being late to school may lead to poor attendance.
• Absences and tardiness can affect the whole classroom if the teacher has to slow down learning to help children catch up.
• Attending school regularly helps children feel better about school—and themselves. Building this habit in elementary school will help them to learn right away that going to school on time, every day is important. Eventually good attendance will be a skill that will help them succeed in high school and beyond.
WHAT YOU CAN DO
• Set a regular bedtime and morning routine.
• Lay out clothes and pack backpacks and snacks the night before.
• Keep your child healthy and make sure your child has the required vaccinations.
• Develop backup plans for getting to school if something comes up. Call on a family member, a neighbor or another parent.
•Schedule medical appointments and extended trips when school isn't in session.
• If your child seems anxious about going to school, talk to teachers, school counselors and other caregivers for advice on how to make your child feel comfortable and excited about learning.
Please make sure to reference the school calendar for upcoming holidays and professional development days for staff. The full yearly calendar can be found here:
Please mark your calendars with these upcoming dates:
Tuesday, September 5th, First Day: Grades 1-5 (Kindergarten students have been assigned to a first full day on either September 5th or 6th. Please refer to teacher welcome letters to learn about which day your Kindergartner will be attending)
Tuesday, September 5th, ½ of full Kindergarten class
Wednesday, September 6th, ½ of full Kindergarten class
Wednesday, September 6th, Early release Wednesdays begin: 1:00pm dismissal
Thursday, September 7th, full day for ALL Kindergarten students
Friday, September 8th, Stratton’s Welcome Back Bash 5:00pm-7:00pm. The Stratton PTO is excited to host the annual Back-to-School Bash this year! Please join us on Friday, 9/8 from 5-7 p.m. to catch up with old friends and meet some new ones. There will be music, games, an ice cream truck and lots of smiles! Bring your own picnic.
Monday, September 25th, Yom Kippur - NO SCHOOL
Thursday, September 28th, Back-to-School Night where caregivers will have the opportunity to meet your teachers, see classrooms, and learn about the exciting year ahead (more details to come)
Thank you for entrusting us with your child's education. We can't wait to see the smiles, hear the laughter, and witness the achievements that this school year will undoubtedly bring.
Here's to a fantastic year of growth, partnership, and learning for all of us!
Warmest regards,
Amy Kelly & Taylor O’Brien